The election has come and gone, and one candidate stood out because of his undeniable “pawsitivity.”
Therapy dogs are common in nursing homes and workplaces, but during election season, it might also help to have these dogs jumping and rolling around. Some of these furry companions wear US flag ties, while others “run for the presidency,” just like Mr. Jefferson. This is a story about how a therapy dog brought students and staff together during the election season.
We might only know two presidential candidates this year, but there’s another one that students and staff from Laurel Middle School proudly supports…an under(dog) if you will. Meet: Mr. Jefferson. During the election season, Jefferson was roaming around the school to ease the stress among students and staff.
On November 5, Tuesday afternoon, a student was spotted wearing a shirt that says “Jefferson for President 2024.” According to the student named Collin Chouinard, their teachers have been showing them the live voting count, making the day quite eventful. Meanwhile, Mr. Jefferson was out there campaigning with kindness. So how exactly did Mr. Jefferson become a presidential pup?
Jefferson for President
Mr. Jefferson is a three-year-old English Labrador who joined the middle school as a therapy dog a year ago. According to Amy James, the school’s U.S. History teacher, Mr. Jefferson’s “presidential campaign” started roughly around two months ago. There was a student who approached her with a Jefferson for President poster that he made for fun. That’s when an exciting idea came to Amy’s mind.
Amy thought it would be great to do something at school that would engage students in the topic of elections. Mr. Jefferson’s presidential run has brought awareness to the election season, but more importantly, to kindness. When another teacher designed the shirts with the pup’s face, there was something about it that pulled the students together.
RELATED: Border Collie and Dancer Captivate Audiences in World Championship Performance
Spreading Kindness and “Pawsitivity”
After finalizing the shirt design, the teachers partnered with Dynamic Designs, a screen printing shop, in order to create the shirts. The merchandise was such a hit that they sold over 300 pieces. According to Amy, it’s like everyone went out of their way to show support to Mr. Jefferson. Their social status didn’t matter; everyone who wanted the shirt got one. While some shirts were sold at $8.50 each, there are others that have been donated by Dynamic Designs.
As Amy taught the students about the electoral college, they playfully wished that one state would pick Mr. Jefferson as their president. Amy shared that it was adorable. She can see that everyone loves the pup, and Jefferson loves them back. These moments are special to Amy since she’s also the owner of the presidential pup.
Just the mere presence of therapy dogs like Jefferson has the power to calm nerves. And you might find that this is also true for ordinary cheerful pups. Therapy dogs, however, are trained to quickly adjust to new environments. That’s why they could still offer comfort and support during events like Election Day, which could get complex and cause anxiety to some.
Not all dogs are cut out to become therapy dogs, and there are specific breeds that are best suited for this role. A Labrador, for example, is gentle, outgoing, and calm, making it an ideal breed to be trained as therapy dog. Meanwhile, canines with some kind of ingrained fear may not be a good fit for this line of work.
RELATED: Service Dog Steals the Show as a Marching Band Performer
From The Club
I have so much respect for therapy dogs, including Mr. Jefferson. It seems like they’re always full of love to give to their owners and other people. It’s such a bummer that not a lot of people voted for Mr. Jefferson! 🫤 Kidding aside, the impact that this dog made throughout the election was amazing. Kids were suddenly into the elections, and they even experienced first-hand that people can unite despite their socioeconomic differences, and especially when supporting something good. Mr. Jefferson is such an inspiration!
